Hawthorn

While the main watch will be on Jordan Lewis' knee injury, and whether Cyril Rioli comes straight back in, expect Ben McEvoy to be another storyline this week. He was withdrawn from Sunday's VFL win in case he is needed to replace Jonathon Ceglar, who had 11 disposals and 18 hit-outs against Port Adelaide. Ceglar would be giving up seven kilograms to Sydney's Mike Pyke in ruck contests, and McEvoy's form in the VFL has been flawless. There is every chance the Hawks will decide to play McEvoy in the ruck and give David Hale more  time up forward as a better option than the current Hale-Ceglar set-up. It is likely Lewis will be able to drain his knee of the fluid and blood causing him soreness, but veteran Brad Sewell was also withdrawn from the VFL to be on standby. So who then comes out for Rioli, should the Hawks decide to play him for the first time since June 28? Matt Spangher will probably be required to take one of Sydney's many tall forwards, or push forward, so that only leaves Taylor Duryea and super sub Jonathan Simpkin, both of whom have done little wrong.

Sydney

Sam Reid is the only concern, having been substituted against North Melbourne with a "jarred knee", although the Swans are confident he will be available, which means they are likely to go unchanged.

WHO ARE THE X-FACTORS?

Sydney

Lance Franklin

Obvious, but it can't be anyone else given the opponent. Will it get to him mentally? That could be the only way to slow Buddy down, because physically, he looks unstoppable. No one should know how to plan for Franklin better than the Hawks but, then again, they have only had one season to practice playing against him. Other teams have had nine and still don't have an answer. Josh Gibson is not a natural match-up for him and even though Franklin  kicked only two and three goals against his old team this season, he had a total of 17 scoring shots and took 12 marks inside 50 in those two games.

Hawthorn

Jack Gunston

The sharp shooter has not grabbed attention like he did last September. But if this grand final turns out to be the type of nine-goals-to-10 pressure-fest we've become accustomed to in recent years, then it could be Gunston's accurate goalkicking in the clutch that emerges as a key difference.

HOW DO THEY WIN?

Sydney

We know about the potent front half, and it's not just Franklin and Kurt Tippett. Adam Goodes appears determined to go out with a bang. But the Swans' pace and wave-running out of defence loom just as large for Hawthorn. Nick Malceski, Rhyce Shaw, Dane Rampe and Gary Rohan all join in on the offence coming off half-back and that type of line-breaking and over-lap (which then engages Sydney's unbelievable midfield) is the type of play that gave Hawthorn so much trouble on the outside of the contest against Port Adelaide. Playing Rioli might help curb that counter-attack.

Hawthorn

It's relatively simple for the Hawks. If the Swans beat them on the inside of the contest, they can then use their speed and move the ball long to their dangerous key forwards in one-on-one situations. But if the Hawks win the clearances, or at least use their defensive structure to turn the ball over at stoppages, they can then control the tempo of the game by keeping the ball in their own hands. The Hawks' kicking and uncontested possession game is now so "dialled-in", that they know they can beat anyone. They just need the ball to do it. The Swans are the No.1 team i for defending opposition teams on the turnover. But not even they could stop Hawthorn's attacking method  in round 18.